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Potomac State College

ENGL 102 Research Guide: Fact Checking Your Sources

Tips and tricks from librarians! Contains videos, tutorials, and other resources to help you write a great research paper.

Fact Checking Your Sources -- Especially When They Seem Too Good to Be True!

27 Indisputable Reasons Why Dogs Are Better Than Cats13 reasons why cats are better than dogsYou've found your multiple viewpoints, but now you need to check to see how accurate their arguments are.

You should carefully check the ones you like best.

Why?

  • We all have an unconscious bias towards information that reinforces what we already believe.
  • Therefore, if you really like something, make sure you check to see if it is accurate or just supporting your opinion.

And don't forget to do the same thing with information that contradicts your opinion.

FactCheck.org

FactCheck.org: http://www.factcheck.org/

“[N]onpartisan, nonprofit ‘consumer advocate’ for voters…” from the Annenberg Public Policy Center of the University of Pennsylvania. Founded in 2003 by Kathleen Hall Jamieson and Brooks Jackson.

Associated sites:

How to Spot Fake News by Eugene Kiely and Lori Robertson, 18 November 2016

http://cf.factcheck.org/2016/11/how-to-spot-fake-news/

  • Consider the source.
  • Read beyond the headline.
  • Check the author.
  • What’s the support?
  • Check the date.
  • Is this some kind of joke?
  • Check your biases.
  • Consult the experts.

FactCheck.org on Social Media:

Snopes.com

Snopes.com logoSnopes.com: http://snopes.com/

According to its About Us page, it was founded in 1995 by David Mikkelson as an outlet for his interest in urban legends and has since incorporated politics as well. According to its FAQ page, “Snopes.com is (and always has been) a completely independent entity which is wholly owned by its operators and receives no funding in any form. We have no financers, sponsors, investors, partners, or donors, nor do we have any affiliation or relationship (financial or otherwise) with any political party, religious group, business organization, government agency, or any other outside group or persons. We pay all the costs of producing and operating this web site ourselves and derive our income solely from the advertising revenues it provides.”

Snopes on Social Media

Politifact.com

Politifact logo

Politifact.com: http://www.politifact.com/

Founded in 2007 (according to its LinkedIn page), Politifact is part of the Tampa Bay Times Website. The reviews of the facts are well documented using reliable sources and a complete explanation of the research and reasoning used. It leavens its serious nature with a rating system using a Truth-O-Meter with ratings that range from True to False and beyond to Pants on Fire for ridiculous claims.

Associated Sites:

  • States: Politifact has partnered with news organizations in 18 states to fact check state news.
  • PunditFact: http://www.politifact.com/punditfact/
    • “…check[s] the accuracy of claims by pundits, columnists, bloggers, political analysts, the hosts and guests of talk shows, and other members of the media.”

Politifact on Social Media:

Fact Checker (Washington Post)

Washington Post Fact Checker logo

Fact Checker (Washington Post): https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/fact-checker/?utm_term=.24210d9ef296

The Washington Post Fact Checker column is a very reliable source for political news fact checking. According to its About Us page, it was made a permanent feature in 2011 and it is written by Glenn Kessler, a Washington Post reporter and a journalist with almost 30 years of experience in national and international news reporting. Additional contributors are also Washington Post reporters with subject area expertise. The articles are well-sourced and directly linked to sources whenever possible. It leavens its serious nature with a rating system using Pinnochio icons (1-4) for problem “facts” and a Geppetto Checkmark for absolutely true facts.

Fact Checker on Social Media:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/FactChecker/